reptileguy112
Active Member
I have a 40g and I am about to get a nano 8g. Can I just skip the nitrogen cycle by using old water from the 40 along with the 40s rock+sand? Thank you!
Can I skip cycling my tank?
- Thread starter reptileguy112
- Start date
- Tagged users None
4FordFamily
Tang, Angel, and Wrasse Nerd!
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2015
- Messages
- 20,450
- Reaction score
- 47,597
- Location
- Carmel, Indiana
- What state or country do you live in
- Indiana
It will help immensely. Some people can "skip" cycle, others report a mini cycle. Lots of factors that are unknowns.
saltyphish
Certified Sand Groomer
You won't skip the cycle completely, but you should not endure a long cycle either. Anytime you move rock and sand around you have the potential to start a mini-cycle as 3ford stated.
reptileguy112
Active Member
even in an established tank?
melypr1985
totally addicted
Yes, there's lots of little nasties stuck in that sand and rock that gets stirred up and released into the water when being moved. I'm learning about that myself as I'm about to transfer all my rock and sand to a bigger tank.
reptileguy112
Active Member
But its not s big deal right? I am trying out a nano aqueon 8 thingy
melypr1985
totally addicted
I think it depends on how much crud is in your sand and rock and how much bacteria you have built up in both to neutralized the nitrite and so forth that will come of the crud.
saltyphish
Certified Sand Groomer
Believe me it is a big deal if you add livestock and you have a mini-cycle/cycle. You could lose everything!
reptileguy112
Active Member
how come I don't lose everything whenever I rearrange the tank?
Use new sand with your established rock and you should minimize if not skip the cycle. That's what I did going from a 10 to 75! Never had a ammonia or nitrite spike, even tried to get it going with some raw shrimp for a week and nothing!
When I put my system together I got 80 kilo of rock from a tank that was closing down loaded it all into water buts with water from his tank and trasported it 10 minutes up road to mine and strait into my tank.
My tank had been running 24 hours with just new sand and 50% cycled water and 50% new I never see any cycle. After 2 weeks of testing no sign of a cycle happened and I put fish and corals in and I've never seen any ammonia or nitrite.
My tank had been running 24 hours with just new sand and 50% cycled water and 50% new I never see any cycle. After 2 weeks of testing no sign of a cycle happened and I put fish and corals in and I've never seen any ammonia or nitrite.
reptileguy112
Active Member
Sounds good, I will pick up some caribsea at the lfs
4FordFamily
Tang, Angel, and Wrasse Nerd!
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2015
- Messages
- 20,450
- Reaction score
- 47,597
- Location
- Carmel, Indiana
- What state or country do you live in
- Indiana
I have never tried this but I can tell you from many updates - using old sand is NOT the way to go... I will buy new next time.
maroun.c
Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Excellence Award
Reef Of The Month
Photo of the Month
Article Contributor
My Tank Thread
Rearranging the tank is different than moving things from one tank to another, its usually a minor fix of rocks with minimal time out if water... If you take rocks out and disturb your sand a lot during a tank rearrangement you might also cause a mini cycle.
reptileguy112
Active Member
I brain farted when I was setting up the tank (I got it today!) and put the sand in there along with a xenia.....opps. Lets hope for the better, the xenia will show us if it's safe or not! I am selling my 40 gallon breeder, does $350 sound like a good price for a tank with lots of live rock, coral, fish, halides, skimmer, gfo, etc.?
787will
Well-Known Member
NEVER use old sand, it hold sooo much crud you get nothing but nitrate problems down the road. I have upgraded tanks several times, 30g to 55g, 55g to 125g and so forth, i use NEW dry substrate and dry rock then i transfer all live rock, corals, fish and water from old system then top off with new saltwater. I have not had issues with cycling or even a mini cycle using this method.
Only way to get a tank up and running without a cycle is to use all fully cured live rock. Using water from another tank isn't going to do anything, theres not enough bacteria in it to stop a new tank cycle. Using sand from and established tank will only cloud up your tank, and help start the cycle, theres not enough bacteria in it to stop the cycle.
reptileguy112
Active Member
Well I guess I have some waiting to do then
PostShawn
Active Member
I also did an upgrade using my old live rock and new live sand and had no problems. I was able to move livestock within days. I don't see what downsizing or setting up a second tank with this method would be too much different.
Good luck.
Good luck.
